Container cover closing machine



Feb. 23, 1937. c. T. DRAPER 2,071,970

CONTAINER COVER CLOSING MACHINE Filed Jan 4, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 "I j 43, i 4a v 56.2. 47 1A5: L 7 56' 60 i9 i5 52' H6.

//VVE/V7'0R.' CHARLES 7.' DRAPl/P Feb. 23, 1937. c. T. DRAPER CONTAINER COVER CLOSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 39 Avian/ram.-

CHARLES 7.' fl/PAPIR ArraAMe /s Feb. 23, 1937. c. T. DRAPER CONTAINER COVER CLOSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1935 5 Sheets-$heet 5 Patented Feb. 23, 1937 2,071,970 CONTAINER COVER CLOSING momma Charles T. Draper, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as-

signor to The Draper Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 4, 1935, Serial No. 321

7 Claims.

The invention relates to handoperated machines for securing, fastening and sealing sheet metal covers, closures, heads, and the like, onto metallic kegs, pails, packages, barrels, drums or containers, or onto an opening in the head of such kegs, pails, packages, barrels, drums or containers.

A number of diiferent constructions for cover closing or fastening machines have been used for bending cover lugs or indenting cover flanges to closing position; but numerous difficulties have been encountered in the use of the same.

The most satisfactory prior types of cover closing machines have included bending or crimping jaws pivoted on a base plate and operatively connected to a head slidably mounted on a cen tral post projecting upwards from the base plate, to which head is connected operating means mounted on the top of the post. However, the sliding head frequently rotates and/or binds on the post or causes binding in the connecting means between the same and the jaws, due to rotation of the head on the central post; and if the central post becomes bent or sprung, the whole machine may be rendered inoperative.

Moreover, the machine is carried by the user from container to container for successively fastening or securing covers and the like to containers, and in so doing the machine must be lifted; which is usually done by grasping the operating means. When the device is picked up in this manner, the weight of the same is-supported through the central post, so that the central post may frequently become subjected to unusual bumps or blows in the carrying of the machine from place to place.

Such machines must be as light as possible so as not to unduly tire the operator of the same in carrying a machine from place to place between the performance of closing operation. The normal way of preventing some of the difliculties encountered in prior constructions is by increasing the size and strength of the central post; but this must be avoided because of the increased weight which would be involved in so doing.

The present invention therefore proposes to overcome the diiliculties and disadvantages of the prior art in a novel manner and has for an object the provision of a container cover closing machine, which is very light in weight and may be effectively used for securing, attaching and sealing a cover or head to a container or to a container opening.

A further object of thepresent invention is to provide a light weight container cover closing machine in which the operating head thereof cannot rotate or bind on the mounting means therefor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a light weight container cover closing ma- 5 chine in which the weight or load of the machine 1 is supported directly by the operating means or handles so that when the machine is lifted by grasping the handles, the base weight is carrieddirectly by the handles, and not intermediately through a post or the like which projects from the base and are provided primarily for other purposes.

And finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, eflicient, durable, light weight container cover closing machine, which avoids the diificulties and disadvantages of prior art constructions in use, and which incorporates the new characteristics referred to above.

These and other objects may be obtained by the combinations and constructions hereinafter described in detail and claimed, a preferred embodimentof which is shown in the drawings, and which may be stated in general terms as including in a container cover closing machine, a base or spider, crimping lever jaws preferably pivot ally mounted on the base, guide members pro-' jecting upwards from the base, a cross head slidably mounted on the guide members, operating handle levers pivotally connected to each other and to the cross head, link levers pivotally connected to the base and tothe handle levers, and preferably adjustable links pivotally connected tothe jaw levers and to the cross head.

In the accompanying drawings, the improved container cover closing machine is shown, in which:-

Figure 1 is a vertical axial sectional view through the improved machine and a fragmentary portion of a container head and cover, the machine parts being shown in open position and the section being taken substantially on the line l--l,Fig. 4;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of certain of the machine parts shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 3--3, Figs. 4 and 5, showing pilot pins with which the improved machine may be equipped;

Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is another plan sectional view taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the machine in "closed position after the completion of a cover closing, attaching and sealingv operation;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse section of certain of the machine parts taken on the line Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a. view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the position of the parts when the machine is in closed position. a

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

The improved machine is generally indicated at 9 in the drawings, and includes a base or a spider Ill, having a central boss or hub portion H, from which the spokes |2 radiate; and the spokes l2 preferably terminate in bifurcated ends l3 adjacent to the integral outer annulus or connecting ,ring H, which is preferably undercut at |5 for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. The base or spider l0, comprising the parts Just described is preferably an integral casting.

Two or more guide rods l5 having heads I! cut away at l8, are mounted at one end 19 in the base hub or boss portion Ii, so as to project upward therefrom; and a sliding cross head generally indicated at 20 is slidably mounted for vertical movement on said guide members I5. A pair of crossed generally s-shaped operating levers 2|, provided with handles 22, are pivotally mounted at 23 to each other and to the cross head 20 on a pin 24 extending between spaced ears 25 provided on the cross head 20 independently of and preferably between the guide member heads l1; the cut away portions ii! of the heads enabling the ears 25 to clear the heads when the cross head is moved to the upper or open position of the machine, as best shown in Figs. l, 2,4, and '7.

Links 26, bifurcated at 21 at both ends, are pivotally connected at their upper ends at 28 to the operating levers 2|, and at their lower ends at 29 to cars 30 projecting upwardly from the base adjacent to the central boss or hub |l thereof.

The cross head 20 is also provided with a series of radial ears 3|, corresponding'in number and location to the base spokes 2, to which ears 3| are pivotally connected at 32, independently of the operating levers 2| and links 26, the upper bifurcated ends 33 of preferably tubular adjusting links 34. Thus, the. links 34 are pivoted to the cross head 20 at places spaced from the pivotal connection 24 of the operating levers 2| with the crosshead 20. The lower ends of the links 34 are provided with eyes 35, adjustable at 35, and pivotally connected at 31 to the upper bifurcated ends 38 of the jaw levers 39, which levers 39 are pivoted at 40 to the bifurcated end portions l3 of the base spokes 2.

The operating levers 2| are preferably provided with a lock or latch which normally holds the same in open'position, if the handles have been moved to that position; as by providing a catch 4| on one of the operating levers and a bell crank lock member 42, pivoted at 43 on the other operating lever adjacent to the catch 4|. The bell crank lock 42 may preferably be provided with a finger operating tab 44, conveniently located adjacent one'of the handles 22; and the bell crank lock 42 is normally held in locked position (Fig. l) by a spring pressed plunger 45 mounted in a housing 45 on the operating lever 2| to which the bell cra'nk lock 42 is pivotally connected.

The Jaw levers 99 are provided at their lower undercut at 5| corresponding to the recess 01" undercut l5 provided in the under surface of the spider ring H, for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

In operating the machine, the parts are normally in the position indicated in Fig. l. The machine is placed upon a container, which may have a metallic head wall '52 provided with an opening 53 formed by a tubular neck 54 terminating in an annular bead 55. A cover 58 is placed over the opening 53, and the cover has a depending annular flange 51 (Figs. 3 and 8) which may be provided with spaced lugs or tabs 58 (Figs.

1 and 6). A sealing gasket 59 is interposed in the annular groove 5|! between the cover 55 and bead 55. y

In placing the machine in a position for performing a closing and sealing operation, the

pilot pins 49 (Fig. 3) serve to center the machine movement of the handles 22, the pilot pins 49 move upward in the housings 48 and the undercutor recess I 5 of the base ring |4 rests on the cover rib forming the groove 60, as shown in Fig. 8.

Likewise, during downward movementof the handles 22, the link and lever connection between the base, through the links 26 and operating levers 2| pivotally connected to each other and to the cross head 20, moves the cross head downward; andthis downward movement of the cross head 20 causes, through the links 34, an outward movement of the upper ends of the jawlevers 39 to the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, whereby the gripping portions 01 teeth 41 thereof move inward and upward to clamp the cover lugs 58 andsecurely engage them under the container head bead 55, as shown in Fig. 6. The jaw action between the gripping teeth 41 and the undercut groove 5 of the base ring |4 likewise causes acompression of the liquid sealing gasket 59 so that a liquidetight seal is secured between the cover 56 and the container head 52. In the operation of the machine, all of the forces and loads are taken directly by the base Ill because the jaw levers 39 are pivotally connected thereto; and because the operating levers are connected to the base by the links 26.

After the closing operation has been performed, the handles may be raised to the position shown in Fig. 1, when the lock 42 automatically locks,

ous link and lever connections, because the same is guided downward on the guide rock ll.

The improved container cover closing machine may therefore be very eflectively used for securing, attaching and sealing a cover to a container opening without binding of the machine parts; and the same is simple and light weight in construction and eillcient and durable in use.

It is to be understood that the improved machine 9 may be used to apply a head to a container having side walls formed with a bead similar to the bead 55. Likewise, the separate lugs 58 need not be formed on the cover flange 51, but the cover flange itself may be indented at spaced intervals to secure the same to the container, by use or the improved machine.

I claim:

1. A container cover closing machine including a base, guide means mounted on the base, a cross head slidably mounted on the guide means, operating levers link connected to the base and pivotally connected to the cross head, said levers having handles thereon, and jaw means mounted on the base and link connected to the cross head at places spaced fromthe pivotal connection of the operating levers with the cross head.

2. A container cover closing machine including a base, guide means mounted on the base, a cross head slidably mounted on the guide means, operating levers pivotaliy connected to each other and to the cross head, links connecting the operating levers to the base, and jaw means mounted on the base and link connected to the cross head at places spaced from the pivotal connection of the operating levers with the cross head.

3. A container cover closing machine including a base, guide means mounted on the base, a cross head slidably mounted on the guide means, operating levers link connected to the base and pivotally connected to the cross head, jaw levers pivotally mounted on the base, and links pivotally connected to the jaw levers and to the cross head at places spaced from the pivotal connection of the operating levers with the cross head.

4. A container cover closing machine including a base, guide rods mounted on the base, a cross head slidably mounted on the guide rods, operating levers "pivotally connected to the cross head between the guide rods. at places spaced from the guide rods, links connecting the operating levers to the base, and jaw means mounted on the base and link connected to the cross head at places spaced from the pivotal connection of the operating levers with the cross head.

5. A container cover closing machine including a base, guide means mounted on the base. a cross head slidably mounted on the guide means, operating levers link connected to the base and pivotally connected to the cross head, jaw means movable from ffopen to clamping" position mounted onthebase and link connected to the cross head at places spaced from the pivotri connection or the operating levers with the cross head, and means mounted on the operating levers for locking the jaws in open" position.

6. A container cover closing machine including a base spider having a central boss, guide means mounted'pn the'boss, a cross head slidably mounted on the guide means, operating levers pivotally connected to each other and to the cross head,'links connecting the operating levers to said boss, and jaw means mounted on .the base and link connected to the cross head at places spaced from the pivotal connection 'of the operating-levers with the cross head.

7. A container cover closing machine including a base, guide rods mmmted on the base, a cross head slidably mounted on the guide rods, operating levers pivotally connected to each other and .to the cross head, links connecting the operating levers to the base, jaw levers pivotally moimted on the base, links pivotally connected to the jaw levers and to the cross head at places spaced from the pivotal connection or the operating levers with the cross head, means for adjusting the link connections between the jaw levers and cross head, said jaw levers being movable by operation of the operating levers from open to "clamping position, and means for locking the operating levers to hold the jaws in "open position.

CHARLES T. DRAPER. 

